Eternity by Martha Snell Nicholson and A Short Thought

 

"Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul."  - John Wesley

ETERNITY 

I stood with God on the edge of the world, and my hand was in His hand. 

I looked down the road of the past, as it stretched away in the dim distance, till it was shrouded in the mists of time. 

And I knew it had no beginning, and a little chill wind of fear blew about my head. 

God asked, "Are you afraid?"
And I said, "Yes, because I cannot understand how there can be no beginning." 

So God said, "Let us turn and face the other way." 

And I looked into glory, and my heart rejoiced with joy unspeakable. 

And then my mind went ahead, a billion, billion years, and I knew there would be no end, and again that little chill wind of fear began to blow. 

And God asked me again, "Are you afraid?"
And I answered, "A little, because I cannot understand how there can be no end." 

So God asked me tenderly, "Are you afraid now, today, with your hand in Mine?"
And I looked up at Him and smiled and replied, "O my Father, No!" 

And God said, "Every day in eternity will be today."

by Martha Snell Nicholson

---

Did you ever stop to think that eternity without God would be scary? What good hope would we have, what righteous expectations, what peace without His presence? None, really. Man fantasizes about living forever in this present wicked world, but what comfort or joy is there in that? No, the familiar of this life only seems better because of the limitations of our imaginations. But, when we believe the promises of God and rest in His loving kindness, we can KNOW that eternity, in all its vastness, will be both good and beautiful, both righteous and peaceful. And, in that we can trust that our souls will be completely satisfied, because God is already there, and He is good and gracious and kind to us today.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. 

Evening Song - Finally Home

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

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The Thousand Word Project - Summer Skies

Texas and Tennessee

Lord, How I Long

 

Lord, How I Long

Lord, how I long with eager mind
Men's souls to save and bless!
But yet, alas, how oft I find
Much failure, small success!

In self-dictated haste to serve,
With prayerless zeal I run,
Then weep with weary mind and nerve
To find so little done.

Lord, clear my misted eyes to see
That nothing can avail,
Until I learn, alone with Thee
Through praying to prevail.

What means my busy work to Thee,
If done in vain self-will?
What power or guidance can there be,
Till Thou Thy servant fill?

Lord, help me learn to wait until
Thy will I clearly see;
Then fill me, guide me, and fulfill
Thy perfect will through me.

Author unknown.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves
to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Evening Song - Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

Psalm 118:19-22 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

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Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

Open now thy gates of beauty,

Zion, let me enter there,

Where my soul in joyful duty

Waits for Him who answers prayer.

Oh, how blessèd is this place,

Filled with solace, light and grace!

Gracious God, I come before Thee,

Come Thou also unto me;

Where we find Thee and adore Thee,

There a heav’n on earth must be.

To my heart, oh, enter Thou,

Let it be Thy temple now!

Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee,

Let Thy will be done indeed;

May I undisturbed draw near Thee

While Thou dost Thy people feed.

Here of life the fountain flows,

Here is balm for all our woes.

by Benjamin Schmlock

The Thousand Word Project - Moody Summer Evenings

Psalm 113:3-6 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! 

Worth Repeating - A Better Country

I had thought to repost this article earlier this month, but I didn't get to it. Still it is appropriate to this election year and worth repeating.

Hebrew 11:16 But now they desire a better country,

that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed

to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

The Trouble with Patriotism

There are a lot of people who are very caught up in patriotism. Here in the United States it is often equated with being a "good Christian." That is to say, if you are a "good Christian" you will also be patriotic, you will also "love your country," and your allegiance will be to the "good, ol' USA" (and, "of course," a specific political party). "God and country" is a common theme, though I'd say that "country and God" was a better word order judging by people's speech and actions.

This is an election year [again] in the U.S. and emotions will be running high in many churches. Politics is a BIG subject and many pastors will be openly or covertly plugging for the candidate for whom they want all "their members" to vote. (Too bad more of them don't think of the people as God's heritage, as it really is, and let Him lead the people to vote or not vote as HE sees fit. 1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.)

Another common thing we see among American Christians is the "need," even urgency, to "rescue America" and "restore it to it's Christian foundation." These people talk, dream and try to live in the context of "restoring America" or "making it great again." I've even heard people go so far as to say that it is our responsibility to "make the leaders of this country live by the Constitution."  Some even suggest a new revolution to enforce this. (You won't find a chapter and verse to support that one, by the way.)

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - The Pearly White City

 
I recommend reading all of Revelation Chapter 21
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

 Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

Revelation 21:18-21 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 

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The Thousand Word Project - Colors On A Summer Day

Evening Song - The Haven of Rest

Hebrews 6:18-20 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

Psalm 107:23-31 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Mark 4:37-41 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? 

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The Thousand Word Project - Flowers and Lace